Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-05-12

All this time the line of march had led in
northerly direction, but early the next
morning after encamping north of Four
teen-Mile creek, the division faced about.
recrossed that stream and finally took a
road eastward for Raymond. This place
was reached late in the evening and the
regiment went into camp some little dis
lance east of the town. Early next morn.
ing the regiment again passed through
the town and took road leading in a
northwesterly direction; very soon the
enemy's pickets were encountered and the
whole division, about nine O'Clock, de-
ployed and advanced in line of battle.
The country on both sides the road was
either cultivated fields or for the most part
open timber, so that the advance was I'M
obstructed by thick timber or ravines
The enemy did not seem to be In strong
force in front, and the advance was most
beautiful and orderly. Every regiment
had its flag unfurled and banner flying.
and all moved forward with stately tread.
The writer looked on with admiration, for
here was the "pomp and circumstance of
war" without its horrors. But heavy
firing of to the right told that others were
not coming on 30 easily This was the
battle Of Champions Hill or Bakers
Creek, and was fought May 10, 1863. The
Confederates, with O force numbering
twenty live thousand, had taken q strong
position at Champions Hill, an elevation
that commanded the whole region.
The road upon which were Smith and
Blair's divisions ran 70 the south Of the
elevation, hence but slight resistance was
found in their front.
But on the other roads to the north,
upon which Carr's, Osterhaus' and
Hovey's divisions came into action, the
enemy was met in force. Hovey's Division
belonged to the Thirteenth corps, but for
the time was with Mcpherson upon the
northern or main Vicksburg and jackson
road.
Hovey fought terribly and suffered sc.
verely; large share Of tho whole loss was
sustained by his division, which that day
lost one-third of its number
The Confederates sustained oyerWhelm-
ing defeat, losing in killed, wounded and
missing upwards of six thousand, and
towards and after night retreated precip.
itately.
The Thirteenth Corps pursued them
early on the morning of the 18th of Nav.
and before noon came upon their fortifi.
cations on the Big Black river, where the
railway bridge crosses that stream. The
writer with tho hospital department was
behind with the trains These moved very
deliberately. Early in the morning house
was passed that had been shot through and
through with cannon balls
Before noon Edwards station was reached
and at the Confederate hospital the writer's
attention was called to young Confqd-
crate who had his heart on The ,grong side.
There was probably some enlargement that
made the heart-bea appear to the right of
the chest At noon-tiIne rest and dinner
were taken under some trees in pasture
and while here Confederate paper was
seen which told what terrible losses the in
vaders had sustained and how they were
soon to be hurled back ahd sent flying to
their homes.
After time the road was again taken
and pretty soon a cot was passed at the
side Of the road upon which was dying
officer.
Before Black river bridge was reached
the advance had skirmished with the en-
envy and in this affair the officer, who was